Wednesday May 23,
2012
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Daily Corinthian Vol. 116, No. 124
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• Corinth, Mississippi • 24 pages • 2 sections
Nationally known radio consultant dies BY BOBBY J. SMITH bjsmith@dailycorinthian.com
A Corinth native who left an indelible mark on the country music industry has died. Veteran radio programmer and consultant Sammy Darwin, also known as Rusty Walker, died Monday at North Mississippi Medical Center in Tupelo after suffering a heart attack over the weekend. He was 59 years old. His death follows the passing of his 17-year-old daughter, Kinsley Darwin, who died in March.
Darwin’s illustrious radio career began in 1968. The 1971 Corinth High School grad was the highest-rated FM radio personality in America in the early 1980s when working for WZZK in Birmingham, Ala. His main contribution to the music industry was as a consultant. Darwin founded the Iuka-based Rusty Walker Programming Consultants in 1983. Over the years his company has helped mold the programming of over 500 radio stations — from the smallest rural
markets all the way up to the biggest markets in New York City and other major American cities. Focusing heavily on statistics and demographics, Darwin helped radio stations tailor their programming based on a wide array of information collected from the listeners. “There is little doubt that the majority of radio listeners ... knew nothing of this man, but he certainly knew all about you,” wrote Billy Dukes on the Taste of Country website.
His list of industry honors is extensive. In March 2000, Radio and Records magazine named Darwin in a three-way tie for Country Radio’s Greatest Programmer of the 20th Century. He was named Billboard magazine’s Consultant of the Year for seven consecutive years — out of the eight years the award was given. He was inducted in February as a member of the Class of 2012 in the Country Radio Hall of Fame. Please see DARWIN | 5A
Sammy Darwin
Property easements in hand move along creek cleanup project BY JEBB JOHNSTON jjohnston@dailycorinthian.com
Senior self-portrait Biggersville High School seniors Adria Richardson and Eric Tilley pose for a cell phone photo prior to graduation exercises Monday night for the first of four 2012 ceremonies this week in Alcorn County. Alcorn Central High School is 7 p.m. tonight, followed by Corinth High School at 7 p.m. Friday. Twenty-one Biggersville seniors walked the line Monday. For more photos from the BHS graduation, see Sunday’s edition.
Property easements are in hand for another priority creek cleanup project in Corinth. Drainage commissioner Milton Sandy Jr. presented the paperwork to the Alcorn County Board of Supervisors on Monday along with an update on cleanup efforts stemming from the May 2010 flood. The Bridge, Phillips and Elam Concurrent Drainage Districts continue to work on easements for another two of the five priority projects to be completed by the Tombigbee River Valley Water Management District. Sandy said the project that is ready to move forward is on Elam Creek from U.S. Highway 72 extending toward the Corinth Machinery building area. The easements have been reviewed by attorneys for the drainage districts and TRVWMD and will now be re-
viewed by the Board of Supervisors’ attorney. With the county’s approval of the paperwork, TRVWMD will issue a work order for the project. “They work on a combination of priority and where you stand in the stack,” said Sandy. Getting easements has been a slow process. While the drainage districts have perpetual easements along the canals, larger easements were needed. “The perpetual easements were from 25 feet on either side of the center line of the canal,” said Sandy. “We had to go back to each property owner and get a supplemental easement for 75 feet so that now the drainage district has a 100-foot easement on either side. The drainage district has to transfer that easement to the county. Tombigbee works only with the Board of SuperPlease see CLEANUP | 3A
Homemakers seek assistance Well-known blind solo artist in beautification project will perform during concert BY BOBBY J. SMITH bjsmith@dailycorinthian.com
First impressions are important. That’s why the Corinth Homemakers Club is looking for someone to take over the maintenance on a plot of land at the intersection of U.S. 72 and old Highway 45. About 17 years ago, members of the club noticed that the area wasn’t doing much for the beautification of the city. That’s when they decided to make a difference, said Betty Fulwood, former Extension Center home economist and vice president of the Homemaker Volunteer Council. “Basically there was nothing there,” said Fulwood. “I think it was one tree and some grass that wasn’t mowed often. It was littered, with people throwing out cans and paper. It really was pretty much an eyesore.” Something had to be done. “We as a community-minded organization decided to undertake an effort to get it cleaned up, planted and landscaped in the interest of city beautification,” Fulwood said. After gaining the permission of the state highway department, the club saw to the landscaping of the area and the construction of a berm. Every year they worked to make this intersection a pretty, welcoming site for locals and people passing through town. While the city helps out with the job of keeping the plot mowed, the Homemakers Club worked year after year for the area’s upkeep. But since then the club has declined. Formerly there were seven or eight clubs within Corinth and Alcorn County the number has now dropped
to two — one in the city and one in the county. “We’re down from 20-odd members to seven,” Fulwood said. “And all of us are getting older.” Last week Fulwood and a member from the county club worked to get the land at the intersection in shape for summer. “We said this time that we can’t do it anymore,” said Fulwood. Now with the club unable to take care of a the plot, Fulwood and the other remaining club members are worried that without their stewardship the land could revert back to its former condition, a blemish on Corinth and Alcorn County. “We don’t know what to do. We’ve been trying to find somebody to take over for two years now,” Fulwood explained. “Thus far we haven’t found anybody to take it over.” Unless someone steps up to take over the maintenance of the site by this fall the club has no other choice but to turn it back over to the state highway department. But Fulwood doesn’t want to see that happen. She remembers what it looked like 17 years ago — and she knows the hard work she and her fellow Homemakers have put into making the busy intersection a more pleasant place to drive through. “It really needs to be done,” she said, “in the interest of keeping up the appearance of Alcorn County and the county seat.” Any individual or group interested in taking over the maintenance of the site should contact Betty Fulwood at 2877695.
Index Stocks...... 7A Classified......5B Comics......3B Wisdom......2B
Weather......5A Obituaries......3A Opinion......4A Sports......8A
BY STEVE BEAVERS sbeavers@dailycorinthian.com
Gordon Mote is returning to help. The pianist will be part of a grand list of entertainers set to perform at the 15th Annual Kiwanis/Leon Frazier Memorial Concert on June 2 at the Crossroads Arena. Mote first came to Corinth as a youngster. “Leon brought Gordon to Corinth to play at his dad’s church, the Gospel Tabernacle,” said Kiwanis member Jimmy Rich. Mote still remembers that day. “The first time I met Leon, I was 7 years old,” said the blind solo artist. “He had this organ that had four keyboards and I couldn’t believe he let me play it.” The renowned artist has served as pianist for the Gaither Homecoming Tour since 2006. He has worked with veteran song writers Bill and Gloria Gaither and has performed around the world with the tour. “Leon and the Heisman Quartet were my favorites,” said the Alabama native. “He was the first pianist I tried to copy.” Born blind, he was drawn to music and as a 3-year-old he stunned his parents by playing “Jesus Loves Me” on the piano. Mote, a father of three, was hired by Grammy winning recording artist Lee Greenwood as a keyboard player and background vocalist only two days after graduating Belmont University. Mote became one of the most sought after recording studio session players in Music City, earning eight nominations as Piano/Keyboard Player of the Year by the Academy of Country Music.
The pianist received the honor last year and also in 2009. In 2005, he released his solo debut recording “If You Could Hear What I See,” which earned a Dove Award nomination from the Gospel Music Association for Instrumental Album of the Year. His latest production — “Songs I Grew Up Singing” — was released in spring of last year and brings to life the classics that helped shaped him as a musician/singer. Another performer with ties to the Gaither Family will also help headline the 6 p.m. concert. Michael English — lead singer for the Gaither Vocal Band — will also perform at the 15th Frazier event. Tim Duncan, a graduate of Kossuth High School, and Frazier’s daughter, DuJuana Frazier Thompson, make up the local performers for the concert. Also scheduled to appear are Gene McDonald and Steve Ladd. Proceeds from the event fund the club’s annual scholarships. Last year, the Kiwanis Club awarded a $1,000 scholarship to 13 Alcorn County students. This year the club will have awarded $158,000 in scholarships to 202 students. Ticket prices are $35 for the VIP Artist Circle, that includes a meet and greet time with the artists along with snacks. Floor seats are $25 and riser seating is $20. All seats are reserved. Tickets are available through the Crossroads Arena by calling 662-2877779 or 877-987-8687. Tickets can also be purchased online at www.crossroadsarena.com with online tickets costing an extra $1.50 per ticket.
On this day in history 150 years ago In the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, Gen. Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson captures a thousand Federals at Front Royal. For three weeks, Jackson has been out-marching and outfighting superior numbers of the enemy.